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Glossary

are a set of exclusive rights granted to a copyright owner (to authorize the reproduction, distribution and communication of a work to the public), which allow the owner of these rights to derive financial reward(s) from the use of his works by others. These rights may be transferred or licensed, usually for a sum of money or royalties depending on the proposed usage of the work.

Enforcement (IP Enforcement)

legal actions, remedies, measures and procedures taken against IPR infringement. This includes, among others, stopping unauthorized use, deterring future infringements, and obtaining recovery for damages resulting from the infringing act.

Enterprise Europe Network

the European largest information and consultancy network which is funded under the Programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) and is aimed at providing innovation and business support to small businesses across the European Union. It consists of close to 600 business support organizations, such as chambers of commerce and industry, technology centres, research institutes and development agencies from more than 60 countries worldwide. The European Commission's Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) is responsible for managing the Network on a daily basis.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)

was one of the specific programmes under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme 2007-2013 (CIP). EIP had the objective to support enterprises (particularly SMEs), entrepreneurship, innovation (e.g. eco-innovation), and promote industrial competitiveness within the EU.

ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA)

is the administrative organ of the European Research Council (ERC), which is responsible for all aspects of administrative implementation and execution of ERC programmes.

Escrow agreement

it is an agreement by which one party deposits an asset with a third person (called an escrow agent) who will in turn make delivery to another party if and when specified conditions occur.

EUIPO

is the agency of the European Union in charge of managing the EU trade mark and the registered Community design. It was previously known as the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM).

Euratom Programme

is the Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities. The general objective of the Euratom Programme is to pursue nuclear research and training activities with an emphasis on continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, notably to potentially contribute to the long-term decarbonisation of the energy system in a safe, efficient and secure way.

European Economic Interest Group (EEIG)

is a legal instrument created by Council Regulation 2137/85 of 25 July 1985 to aid transnational cooperation between economic operators, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, for the realization of a specific project in a flexible form of association and on an equal legal footing while maintaining their economic and legal independence. EEIG is recognized in all EU member states and must be formed at least of two members from different member states.

European Patent

is obtained by presenting a single application and following a European centralized procedure in the EPO, where a patent granted turns into a bundle of as many national patents as countries chosen in the application. The holder of this patent is conferred the same rights as would be conferred to a patent granted in the respective countries designated in the application.

European Patent Office (EPO)

The European Patent Office (a regional patents office) was created by the European Patent Convention (EPC) to grant European patents, based on a centralized examination procedure.

European Research Council (ERC)

is the first European Union funding body set up to support investigator-driven frontier research. Its main aim is to stimulate scientific excellence by supporting and encouraging the scientists, scholars and engineers in their research.

European Union trade mark

is a trade mark which is registered at the EUIPO in accordance with the conditions contained in Regulation 2017/1001 on the European Union trade mark, as a result of which protection is obtained in the whole territory of the European Union.

Exclusive License Agreement

is a contract licensing intellectual property to another party for its exclusive use and/or economic benefit.

Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME)

is an executive agency set up by the European Commission to manage on its behalf most parts of the Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME). This Agency is also in charge of the SME instrument, the new and innovative instrument for support to SMEs within the Horizon 2020 programme. Other programmes managed by the Agency are the Energy and Climate societal challenges within Horizon 2020 as well as the Programme for Environment and Climate action (LIFE). EASME is also responsible for significant parts of the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

Exploitation

means, in the context of Horizon 2020, the use of results in further research activities other than those covered by the action concerned, or in developing, creating and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, or in standardisation activities.